Governor Christie has signed an expansion of “Joan’s Law” sponsored by Senate Republicans Dawn Addiego and Anthony Bucco, to mandate life without parole for murdering a minor, of any age, during the course of a sex crime.

Rosemarie D’Alessandro testifies at a May 31, 2017 Senate Budget Committee hearing in support of Sens. Dawn Addiego and Anthony Bucco’s bill expanding the law named after her daughter. S-607 extends Joan’s Law to mandate life in prison for murdering and raping any minor. (SenateNJ.com)

For the past 20 years, “Joan’s Law” has mandated “no release” in cases involving a minor under age 14. S-607 extends Joan’s Law to protect victims between the ages of 14 and 18.

“This law cannot ease the pain of losing a child, but it can ensure that parents do not have to relive that trauma by having to appear before a parole board time and time again, just to keep a killer locked up where they belong.” Senator Addiego said. “Now, every minor who is brutally raped and murdered will receive equal justice under the law – and so will their family.”

“There is always more we can do to keep our children safe from sexual predators. Anyone who commits such an atrocious crime should, at the very least, spend their life in a jail cell,” Senator Bucco said. “There is no justification for releasing these monsters back into the general population. I am hopeful that this law will act as a deterrent. I believe it will save countless young lives for years to come.”

Legislation sponsored by Senator Dawn Addiego (R-Atlantic, Burlington, Camden) to protect the privacy of consumers by restricting the collection of their personal information is now law after it was signed by Governor Chris Christie.

“It seems like there’s a new data breach at a different retailer every few months,” Senator Addiego said. “If these kinds of attacks are getting to become a normal occurrence, we must put more protections in place to prevent consumers’ information from getting into the wrong hands.”

Legislation sponsored by Senator Dawn Addiego (R-Burlington, Camden, Atlantic) to help the uninsured or underinsured through the use of donated prescription and over-the-counter drugs was passed by the New Jersey Senate.

“We already have a number of programs in place to collect unused medication so it can be destroyed, but just because it’s unused doesn’t mean it’s not useful,” Senator Addiego said. “Unexpired medication can and should be going to individuals who need it but otherwise might not have access to it because of how much it costs.”

The New Jersey Senate has passed an expansion of “Joan’s Law” sponsored by Senate Republicans Dawn Addiego and Anthony Bucco, to mandate life without parole for murdering a minor, of any age, during the course of a sex crime. The bill now heads to Governor Christie’s Desk for final approval.

Rosemarie D’Alessandro testifies at a May 31, 2017 Senate Budget Committee hearing in support of Sens. Dawn Addiego and Anthony Bucco’s bill expanding the law named after her daughter. S-607 extends Joan’s Law to mandate life in prison for murdering and raping any minor. (SenateNJ.com)

Since 1997, “Joan’s Law” has mandated “no release” in cases involving a minor under age 14. The Senators’ bill, S-607, extends Joan’s Law to protect victims between the ages of 14 and 18.

“Anyone who is evil enough to rape and murder a child will not hesitate to do it again,” Senator Addiego “We need to protect every minor, whether they are 7 or 17-years-old, from these dangerous predators. There is no justification for ever releasing them back into the general population. Parents shouldn’t have to go through the painful process of explaining this to a parole board. After seven years of fighting for this bill, I am so pleased to see us send it to the Governor’s Desk today.”

“Rosemarie has been a tireless advocate for victims and for the families who have had to cope with an unimaginable tragedy. I was honored to stand beside her as our bill passed the Senate Budget Committee last month,” Senator Bucco said. “Until we reinstate the death penalty for these atrocious crimes, expanding Joan’s Law to all minors is the best way to ensure that anyone who brutally rapes and murders an innocent child never sees the light of day again.”
Read the rest of Senate Passes ‘Joan’s Law’ Expansion to Mandate Life in Prison for Murdering & Sexually Assaulting Any Minor (228 words)

Legislation sponsored by Senator Dawn Addiego (R-Burlington, Camden, Atlantic) to help the uninsured or underinsured through the use of donated prescription and over-the-counter drugs was advanced by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“We already have a number of programs in place to collect unused medication so it can be destroyed, but just because it’s unused doesn’t mean it’s not useful,” Senator Addiego said. “Unexpired medication can and should be going to individuals who need it but otherwise might not have access to it because of how much it costs.”

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has passed legislation sponsored by Senate Republicans Dawn Addiego and Anthony Bucco extending “Joan’s Law” to eliminate the possibility of parole for anyone convicted of the murder of a minor in the course of a sex crime.

“No parent should have to stand in front of a judge and convince them that the monster who raped and murdered their child must remain in prison for life,” Senator Addiego (R-8) said. “Anyone who is evil enough to commit such a heinous crime will not hesitate to victimize another child. Extending ‘Joan’s Law’ to all minors will ensure every family who loses a child receives equal justice under the law.”

“There is no justification for releasing someone who has brutally raped and murdered an innocent child back into the general population. It should not matter if the child is 7 or 17-years-old. These dangerous criminals should, at the very least, be locked up for life,” Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25) said. “By applying Joan’s Law to every minor who is killed during the course of a sex crime, we can keep even more predators in prison where they belong.”

The New Jersey Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senate Republicans Diane Allen and Dawn Addiego to correct a flawed statute that prohibits the Department of Children and Families (DCF) from informing a religious institution that substantiated allegations of child abuse have been made against an employee or volunteer.

Current law prohibits DCF from informing a religious institution that substantiated allegations of child abuse have been made against an employee or volunteer. A bill sponsored by Sens. Diane Allen and Dawn Addiego closes that loophole. (Flickr)

“Right now, a person who is fired from a day care center because of a failed child abuse record check can turn right back around and volunteer to teach Sunday school, and there’s nothing DCF or the courts can do about it. Their hands are tied by the law,” Senator Allen said. “The children in that church classroom are no less deserving of the law’s protection. One example is too many. We have to correct this injustice now.”

Bill expands “Joan’s Law” to mandate life without parole for murder of a child under age 18 during a sex crime.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has passed legislation sponsored by Senate Republicans Dawn Addiego and Anthony Bucco to eliminate the possibility of parole for anyone convicted of the murder of a minor in the course of a sex crime.

Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego (left) joined Rosemarie D’Alessandro as she testified in support of updates to “Joan’s Law” at the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 13, 2017. (SenateNJ.com)

Since 1997, “Joan’s Law” has mandated “no release” in cases involving a minor under age 14. S-607 extends Joan’s Law to protect victims between the ages of 14 and 18.

“The monster who brutally raped and murdered little Joan D’Alessandro has been up for parole four times,” Senator Addiego (R-Burlington) said. “Anyone who is evil enough to commit such a heinous crime once will have no qualms about victimizing another child, no matter how long they have been in jail. No parent should have to stand up in front of a judge over, and over again trying to convince them of this fact. We will keep fighting on their behalf until every minor receives equal protections under the law.”

Senator Addiego and Joan’s mother, Rosemarie D’Alessandro, both testified in support of the bill at the March 13 Judiciary Committee hearing in Trenton.

“My sons Michael, John and I are filled with joy today,” Rosemarie D’Alessandro said. “This shows how the unity of all those involved through their actions and voices makes a huge difference in the fight for more justice for young, vulnerable victims and their families. Now families will not be burdened by the thought of when the next parole date will be, or having to testify. Joan’s legacy is filled with positive energy. The vote today truly brings hope to New Jersey.”

Sen. Dawn Addiego’s bill to improve school bus safety was introduced after 6-year-old Edmond Bock was struck and killed by a school bus in Waterford. (Photo courtesy of Bock family)

“Each and every one of the 23 million children who ride school buses every year should be treated with the highest level of care by those who are responsible for getting them to school safely,” Senator Addiego said. “Edmond Bock’s death is a heartbreaking example of what can happen when we do not have the proper safeguards in place. We need to take immediate action at the state level so that no other child is put in harm’s way.”

Sen. Dawn Addiego’s bill to improve school bus safety was introduced after 6-year-old Edmond Bock was struck and killed by a school bus in Waterford. (Photo courtesy of Bock family)

“More than 23 million children ride a school bus year-round every year,” Senator Addiego (R-Burlington, Camden, Atlantic) said. “Each and every one of these kids has a right to be transported to school safely, and their parents should expect no less than the highest level of protection from those who are charged with this responsibility.”